Webb, Hunter to make next starts Sunday

NEW YORK -- Brandon Webb will make his next start on Sunday for Double-A Frisco against Corpus Christi. The plan is for Webb to pitch every fifth day while building up endurance and arm strength.

He pitched three scoreless innings against Midland on Tuesday, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out one. He threw 45 pitches and told his agent, Jonathan Maurer, "I felt great, like three years ago. I could have got big league hitters out today."

Webb will likely pitch four innings on Sunday against Corpus Christi, and build up from there. He was the National League Cy Young Award winner for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, and a 22-game winner in 2008, but has not pitched in a Major League game in over two years because of a shoulder injury.

"It's good to see him out there," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "It's going to be interesting to watch him. He just needs mound time."

Tommy Hunter, who allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, will start for the Express again on Sunday. He is on the disabled list with a strained left groin muscle.

Wilson gets in some batting practice

NEW YORK -- C.J. Wilson was out taking batting practice with the other starting pitchers early Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Wilson won't pitch in Atlanta this weekend, but he is scheduled to pitch in Houston later this month and will get a chance to hit.

Wilson loves to hit, and he parked one into the second deck at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

Wilson is a left-handed hitter. He was an outfielder in college and offered to play outfield for the Rangers in 2004 when he missed a full season because of Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery.

"I saw Rick Ankiel bat in 2001, and I felt that if he was good at that, I brought a lot of things to the table, too," Wilson said.

The Rangers declined the offer, but Wilson has never lost his love of hitting. He looks forward to Interleague Play -- both in Spring Training and the regular season -- because of the chance to swing the bat. The question is if his love for hitting will push him to sign with a National League team this offseason as a free agent.

"I'm not going to answer that question," Wilson said. "It's the 15th of June, there is a lot of baseball left this season. I'm not thinking about that. ... Well, it does cross your mind. Hitting is fun, and it's easier to pitch in the National League because your facing the pitcher.

"We have lineups where Mitch Moreland is hitting eighth or ninth. Are you kidding? The guy can hit the ball 500 feet. [The National League] is more involved. The manager is more involved. The bench players get more action."

Runs record is next for Young

NEW YORK -- The next club record within Michael Young's reach is the all-time record for runs scored. Young, who set a new club record for career games played on Tuesday, has 945 runs scored. He is 13 behind Rafael Palmeiro.

"I really don't know where I'm at on some of these records," Young said. "I know there has never been a world championship won in Texas. That's what I'm focused on."

Young could also break the club career strikeout record later this season. He needs 27 more to tie Juan Gonzalez's club record. Young doesn't mind.

"You take the good with the bad," Young said. "I hit deep in counts. I feel comfortable hitting with two strikes, so I'm going to strike out. But I still try to do everything I can to put the ball in play and make contact."

Harrison ready to go after bullpen session

NEW YORK -- Matt Harrison is 100 percent again. Harrison threw in the bullpen on Wednesday and did not have any trouble with the bruise on his left arm. Harrison was hit in the triceps with a live drive on Sunday against the Twins, and had to come out of the game in the seventh inning.

But he is confident about his start on Saturday against the Braves after his bullpen session on Wednesday.

"No issues," Harrison said. "I feel the same as I did before. It didn't affect my mechanics or anything. I'm good to go."

Harrison, in 12 starts, is 5-6 with a 3.31 ERA that ranks as the 18th lowest in the American League. But in the past month he has had to deal with a blister on his left index finger, a kidney stone that finally passed on Monday, and a bruised arm. He also had a four-inning shutout against Oakland washed away by rain.

Rangers sign second-round pick

NEW YORK -- The Rangers have signed left-handed pitcher Will Lamb, who was their second-round pick out of Clemson University in the First-Year Player Draft. He agreed to a bonus of $432,000.

Lamb went 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA and 29 strikeouts against 11 walks in 10 games for the Tigers. Lamb also started 59 games in the outfield for Clemson, hitting .348 (79-227) with three home runs and 39 RBIs, while going 13-for-17 on steal attempts.

The Rangers drafted him as a pitcher and he has been assigned to Class A short-season Spokane of the Northwest League.

Worth noting

 The Rangers announced their Minor League awards for May. Shortstop Jurickson Profar was the Player of the Month, Joe Wieland was the Pitcher of the Month, outfielder Ryan Strausborger was the Defender of the Month, and Joe Ortiz was the Reliever of the Month.

 Rangers hitters went 33 innings without drawing a walk until Nelson Cruz did so leading off the ninth inning on Tuesday night. It was the second longest walkless streak in franchise history. They went 38 innings without one in 1984.